Regenerative agriculture and carbon farming are finally spreading in Italy too. These are models designed to tackle climate change by transforming cultivated fields into “carbon banks” capable of absorbing and retaining CO₂ with sustainable agricultural practices. However, the transition is not only an environmental issue, but also an investment (and profit) opportunity for both the public and private sectors. In fact, it fuels the carbon credit market. […]
The European Commission's Farm to Fork strategy and the Green Deal aim to promote regenerative agricultural practices by supporting farmers with Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) funds and encouraging the certification of carbon capture practices.
Carbon farming is the set of agricultural practices that favor the absorption of atmospheric CO₂ by the soil . Carbon stored in the form of organic matter can remain in the soil for decades.
In Italy, where over 40% of the territory is agricultural, the diffusion of this approach could be essential to make the primary sector more sustainable. Especially in areas affected by drought and soil degradation.
One of the most promising aspects for farmers is the possibility of monetizing the sequestered carbon by selling carbon credits to companies and individuals who want to offset their emissions.
In the PNRR 2023 decree, an amendment was approved to establish a national register of agricultural carbon credits , paving the way for a regulated and transparent market (a goal that could be achieved in several years).
In practice, every time a farm removes a ton of CO₂ from the atmosphere, it gets a credit, which must be measured and certified according to recognized standards. The carbon credit can be sold to public and private entities that want to offset their emissions.
Companies can in fact purchase credits to offset emissions that they cannot eliminate with their own means. These are essentially “permits” to emit one ton of CO₂.
In the European regulated market ( Eu Ets ), a carbon credit is worth between 70 and 80 euros . In Italy, however, we mainly operate in the voluntary market , where prices are more variable.
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To access this market, the farmer must:
The farmer thus stops being just a food producer and becomes a green service provider, actively contributing to the fight against climate change and making a profit.
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Source: quifinanza.it